Publications

2003
Book

When You Say Yes But Mean No: How Silencing Conflict Wrecks Relationships and Companies

By: Leslie Perlow

“Saying yes when you really mean no” is a problem that haunts organizations from start-ups to multi-nationals. It exists across industries, levels, and functions. And it’s exacerbated by a down economy, when the fear of losing one’s job is on everybody’s mind and the... View Details

Keywords: Conflict and Resolution; Relationships; Business Ventures

2003
Chapter

Studying Work Groups in India, China, and Hungary

By: Leslie Perlow

Keywords: Groups and Teams; Working Conditions

February 2003 (Revised October 2003)
Case

Peter Jacobs at Versity.com

By: Leslie A. Perlow

Peter Jacobs is Versity.com's new professional CEO. This case provides a behind-the-scenes look at his thoughts and feelings about the company's evolution as he takes charge and tries to establish a new direction for the company. View Details

Keywords: Perspective; Growth and Development Strategy; Planning; Leadership; Management Teams

February 2003 (Revised September 2003)
Case

Howie Cohen at Versity.com

By: Leslie A. Perlow

Howie Cohen is Versity.com's founder. This case provides a behind-the-scenes look at his thoughts and feelings about his company's evolution as they expand across the country and bring in a professional management team. View Details

Keywords: Leadership

February 2003 (Revised October 2003)
Case

Versity.com

By: Leslie A. Perlow

Versity.com has grown from four college students working out of a dorm to a $125 million venture capital-backed company. The young founders and new professional managers struggle to create a company vision and grapple with the question of whether to acquire another... View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Growth and Development; Organizational Design; Mission and Purpose; Strategic Planning; Conflict and Resolution; Mergers and Acquisitions; Management Teams; Core Relationships

January 2003 (Revised April 2004)
Case

Cat is out of the Bag, The: KANA and the Layoff Gone Awry (A)

By: Leslie A. Perlow and David Ager

Vicki Amon-Higa, vice president of KANA, a publicly traded, midsize development company, was working with Bryan Kettle, KANA's CFO, to plan a layoff in which KANA would reduce the size of its workforce by nearly 40%. Despite the best of intentions, news of the layoff... View Details

Keywords: Crisis Management; Employees; Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Problems and Challenges; Business and Stakeholder Relations; Conflict Management

January 2003 (Revised October 2003)
Case

Cat is out of the Bag, The: KANA and the Layoff Gone Awry (B)

By: Leslie A. Perlow and David Ager

Supplements the (A) case. View Details

January 2003 (Revised October 2003)
Case

Cat is out of the Bag, The: KANA and the Layoff Gone Awry (C)

By: Leslie A. Perlow and David Ager

Supplements the (A) case. View Details

2003
Class Lecture

The Danger of Silencing Conflict at Work

By: Leslie Perlow

Keywords: Conflict Management

November 2002 (Revised October 2003)
Supplement

Anne F. Baird

Presents profiles written by six members of the HBS Class of 1976 from the 10th and 20th reunions. The six alumni represent a cross section of the class of 1976 and provide a snapshot of life at the time of the reunions. View Details

Keywords: Personal Development and Career

November 2002
Supplement

Linda Fay Harris

Presents profiles written by six members of the HBS Class of 1976 from the 10th and 20th reunions. The six alumni represent a cross section of the class of 1976 and provide a snapshot of life at the time of the reunions. View Details

Keywords: Personal Development and Career

November 2002
Supplement

Matthew J. Martin

Presents profiles written by six members of the HBS Class of 1976 from the 10th and 20th reunions. The six alumni represent a cross section of the class of 1976 and provide a snapshot of life at the time of the reunions. View Details

Keywords: Personal Development and Career

November 2002
Supplement

Patricia Hughes Mason

Presents profiles written by six members of the HBS Class of 1976 from the 10th and 20th reunions. The six alumni represent a cross section of the class of 1976 and provide a snapshot of life at the time of the reunions. View Details

Keywords: Personal Development and Career

November 2002
Case

Profiles of the Class of 1976

Presents profiles written by six members of the HBS Class of 1976 from the 10th and 20th reunions. The six alumni represent a cross section of the class of 1976 and provide a snapshot of life at the time of the reunions. View Details

Keywords: Personal Development and Career

November 2002
Supplement

Richard Oliva

Presents profiles written by six members of the HBS Class of 1976 from the 10th and 20th reunions. The six alumni represent a cross section of the class of 1976 and provide a snapshot of life at the time of the reunions. View Details

Keywords: Personal Development and Career

November 2002
Supplement

Samuel Allston

Presents profiles written by six members of the HBS Class of 1976 from the 10th and 20th reunions. The six alumni represent a cross section of the class of 1976 and provide a snapshot of life at the time of the reunions. View Details

Keywords: Personal Development and Career